Sergei Ivanovich Koznyshev
Character Analysis

Koznyshev, Levin and Nikolai’s half-brother, is an intellectual who immerses himself zealously in all the most current political activities. He follows all the intellectual trends and fads rather than developing his own points of view. For all his political energy and enthusiasm, however, he cannot settle down and commit to a deep relationship and a family life, as he is unable to propose to Varenka.

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Agafya, Levin’s old nurse and current housekeeper, dislocates her wrist, and Koznyshev befriends the attending doctor, who tells Koznyshev about local politics. Koznyshev asks Levin to take...
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Part 3, Chapter 3

Koznyshev lectures Levin for withdrawing from the local district affairs, but Levin is more concerned with...
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When Koznyshev points out that the emancipation of the serfs was contrary to self-interest but was still...
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Part 3, Chapter 6

They finish mowing the meadow. Levin reluctantly returns to his house and boasts to Koznyshev about finishing the meadow. Levin eats a late supper, and Koznyshev gives Levin a letter...
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Koznyshev says that the main disagreement between Levin and himself is that whereas Levin takes personal...
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Part 4, Chapter 7

...for the dinner party. Along with Karenin, Levin and Kitty will be coming to dinner; Koznyshev will be there as well, and Oblonsky looks forward to political fireworks between him and...
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Part 4, Chapter 10

Karenin, Koznyshev, and another guest continue their discussion of politics. They also debate the merits of a...
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Part 4, Chapter 14

Levin is extremely happy. In a daze, he goes to a council meeting with Koznyshev, where everyone seems sweet in his eyes, because he is in such a thrilled mood....
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Part 6, Chapter 1

...well as Kitty’s friend Varenka, are also staying at the estate, as is Levin’s half-brother, Koznyshev. Koznyshev and Varenka go mushroom hunting, which makes Kitty and Dolly delighted.
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Part 6, Chapter 3

Kitty asks Levin what he thinks about the possibility of Koznyshev and Varenka as a match. Levin says that Koznyshev had fallen in love with a...
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...is happy in marriage but dissatisfied with his own work; though he is envious that Koznyshev puts society above himself, Levin wouldn’t change places with his half-brother. He and Kitty pull...
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Part 6, Chapter 4

Varenka is excited by the charged atmosphere of possible proposal, and Koznyshev realizes he has intense feelings for her. He goes off to gather mushrooms on his...
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Part 6, Chapter 5

Koznyshev rehearses his proposal to Varenka in his head. Although it is clear that marriage is...
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Part 6, Chapter 25

Vronsky, Oblonsky, Levin, Sviyazhsky, and Koznyshev, among others, are all eligible to vote in the provincial elections. Vronsky and Anna come...
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Part 6, Chapter 26

...confinement before she has her baby; he is bored and uncomfortable in the city. When Koznyshev invites Levin to the elections, Kitty orders the nobleman’s uniform he needs and tells him...
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Part 6, Chapter 28

...watches the movement of the servants instead. When it’s Levin’s turn to vote, he asks Koznyshev which way he should cast his ballot, but Koznyshev patronizingly tells him to make his...
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Part 6, Chapter 30

The men scatter. Koznyshev chastises Levin for being so rude and bumbling. Levin thinks that he should know about...
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Part 8, Chapter 1

It is two months after Anna’s death. Koznyshev has published his book after six years’ work. He expects it to cause a great...
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Part 8, Chapter 2

The railway station is crowded with volunteers supporting the Slavic movement. Koznyshev learns that Vronsky is on the train, having volunteered and now headed out to war....
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...over Anna’s dead body and only sees Vronsky the military hero. The woman chatting with Koznyshev points out Vronsky; Vronsky turns and raises his hat, his face stony and sad, haggard...
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Part 8, Chapter 3

People are singing patriotic songs as Koznyshev and Katavasov board the train. Katavasov wants to observe the volunteers, so he goes into...
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Part 8, Chapter 4

During a train stop, Koznyshev walks past Vronsky’s apartment and sees Vronsky’s mother, though not Vronsky. She tells him that...
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Part 8, Chapter 5

Vronsky is pacing and pretends not to see Koznyshev; Koznyshev thinks it is his duty to respect Vronsky for going to war. Koznyshev offers...
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Part 8, Chapter 6

Kitty greets Koznyshev and Katavasov when they arrive at Levin’s house. She is sitting with her father and...
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Part 8, Chapter 11

The day Koznyshev arrives is one of Levin’s most tormenting days. It is one of the most pressing...
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Part 8, Chapter 14

...and almost immediately snaps at the coachman. When he returns to the house, he sees Koznyshev, Katavasov, and Dolly; Kitty has taken Mitya, the baby, to the forest because of the...
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Part 8, Chapter 15

...is volunteering for the cause. The old Prince is skeptical of the Slavic cause, but Koznyshev and Katavasov leap to its defense, Koznyshev declaring that the oppression of the Slavs has...
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...he’s heard the priests talk about it. The peasant says that the emperor will decide. Koznyshev says that the cause is right, but Levin says that people are just trying to...
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Part 8, Chapter 16

Koznyshev changes the subject to discuss the spirit of the people; he says that the intelligentsia...
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Part 8, Chapter 18

Throughout the rest of the day, everyone—especially Levin—is in the best of spirits. Koznysehv expounds on political questions, and everyone listens delightedly; Levin doesn’t understand completely, but he doesn’t...
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